International News & Opinions

Far East – Japan – Russia cooperation opportunities

Japan Mulls Playing Role in Development of Agriculture in Russia’s Far East

Japan is planning to discuss with Russia specific proposals on participation of its entrepreneurs in development of agriculture in Russia’s Far East, local media reported Monday.

TOKYO (Sputnik) – According to the Sankei Shimbun daily, Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Hiroshige Seko will visit Moscow to discuss these proposals before November.

A new Japanese agency will be created to support private sector for developing of agriculture in Russia’s Far East. It will seek to increase agricultural production and improve the quality of products using Japanese technology, the newspaper said.

Japan reportedly hopes that this program will promote the settlement of its territorial issue with Russia. Japan and Russia have never signed a permanent peace treaty after World War II due to a disagreement over four islands, which Russia calls the Southern Kurils and Japan the Northern Territories. The disputed islands, located in the Sea of Okhotsk, were claimed by Soviet forces at the end of the war.